UPSC: Shompen Tribe, Pension Scheme, Antimatter, and More

Table of Contents

UPSC GS 1

Shompen Tribe

News: The Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav has stated that the Great Nicobar Project will not displace the Shompen, an indigenous tribe of the Nicobar Islands.
About Shompen Tribe
- - Isolation: The Shompen tribe is one of the most isolated and least studied Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India.
  - Habitat: They reside in the dense tropical rainforests of Great Nicobar Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Approximately 95% of the island is covered in rainforest.
  - Biological Hotspot: Their habitat is an important ecological zone, housing Campbell Bay National Park, Galathea National Park, and the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve.
  - Population: The Census (2011) estimated the Shompen population to be 229, though their exact population remains unknown due to their isolation.

Lifestyle:
- - Semi-Nomadic Hunter-Gatherers: They sustain themselves through hunting, gathering, fishing, and rudimentary horticulture.
  - Nomadic Movement: The Shompen move through the forest, setting up temporary camps by rivers, staying for a few weeks or months before relocating.
  - Diet: They collect a wide variety of forest plants, with their staple food being the pandanus fruit, which they call “larop.”
  - Language: The Shompen speak their own language, which consists of various dialects, often unintelligible to members of different bands.
  - Physical Features: They are of short to medium stature with Mongoloid features, including light brown to yellow-brown skin, oblique eyes, and a broad facial profile.
  - Family Structure: The Shompen have nuclear families consisting of husband, wife, and their unmarried children.
  - Social Hierarchy: The eldest male member of the family holds authority over the family’s activities.
  - Marriage: Monogamy is common, but polygamy is also permitted within the tribe.

UPSC GS 2

Unified Pension Scheme

News: The Union Cabinet has recently approved the new Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for Central government employees.
Salient Features of the UPS:
Eligibility:
- - All Central Government employees.
Assured pension:
- - Employees who have served for a minimum of 25 years will receive an assured pension amounting to 50% of their average basic pay.
  - For those with less than 25 years of service, the pension will be proportionate to their tenure, with the minimum qualifying service period set at 10 years.
Assured family pension:
- - In event of an employee’s demise, their spouse will receive a family pension, assured at 60% of the pension that the employee was drawing before their death.
Assured minimum pension:
- - Even for employees who have completed a minimum of 10 years of service, there is a guaranteed minimum pension of ₹ 10,000 per month upon retirement.
Inflation indexation:
- - Both the assured pension and the family pension are subject to inflation indexation.
  - This adjustment ensures that the pensions keep pace with inflation.
Dearness Relief:
- - Similar to serving employees, retirees under the UPS will receive Dearness Relief based on the All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW).
Lump Sum Payment on Superannuation:
- - Lump sum payment at superannuation in addition to gratuity 1/10th of monthly emoluments (pay + DA) as on the date of superannuation for every completed six months of service.
Contributions:
- - Employees’ contribution remains unchanged at 10% of the basic salary.
  - Government’s contribution rose to 18.5%.
Transition from NPS to UPS:
- - National Pension System (NPS): Introduced for employees joining on or after January 1, 2004, the NPS bases pension payouts on the accumulated contributions from both the government and employees, which are invested in market-linked securities.
Switch option:
- - Employees who joined after 2004, including retirees, now have the opportunity to switch from NPS to UPS. This option is expected to benefit nearly 99% of NPS members.

Read also: Ethanol Blending in India: Challenges and Opportunities | UPSC

UPSC GS 3

Humpback Whales

News: A juvenile humpback whale was freed recently after it was entangled in ropes and buoys in the harbour of Australia’s largest city for 22 hours.
About Humpback Whales
- - Scientific Name: Megaptera novaeangliae
  - Common Name Origin: The name “humpback” comes from the hump-like shape on its dorsal fin and the distinctive arch of its back during dives.
Distribution
- - Global Range: Humpback whales are found in all oceans around the world.
  - Migration: They are known for long-distance migrations, traveling between polar feeding grounds in summer and tropical or subtropical breeding grounds in winter. Their migration is one of the longest of any mammal.

Features
- - Size: Humpbacks typically measure between 12 to 16 meters in length and weigh around 36 metric tons.
  - Coloration: They are predominantly black or grey with white undersides on their flukes, flippers, and bellies.
  - Unique Anatomy: Their long, wing-like flippers, which can be as long as one-third of their body length, are the basis for their scientific name Megaptera, meaning “large-winged.”
  - Knobs: Humpback whales have distinctive large knobs on their heads, jaws, and bodies, with each knob associated with one or two hairs.
  - Feeding Method: Humpbacks use a special technique called “bubble net feeding,” where they swim in a spiral while exhaling bubbles, creating a net-like structure that traps prey.
Behavior
- - Social Feeding: Humpbacks often feed in large groups.
  - Singing: Male humpback whales are famous for their complex songs, which can be heard up to 20 miles away.
Lifespan
- - Longevity: Humpback whales can live for 80 to 90 years.
Conservation Status
- - IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Sonobuoys

News: The US has recently approved a USD 52.8 million government-to-government deal for the sale of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Sonobuoys to India. These sonobuoys will be integrated with the Indian Navy’s Romeo helicopters for enhanced underwater surveillance.
About Sonobuoys
- - Definition: Sonobuoys are small, expendable devices used in underwater acoustics and sonar systems to detect and analyze sound in the ocean.
  - Primary Use: They are mainly used for tracking submarines and other underwater objects, making them a crucial technology for anti-submarine warfare.
  - Purpose: Sonobuoys help track potentially hostile submarines in the open ocean and coastal areas.
  - Capability: Data from sonobuoys can facilitate precision attacks using air-launched torpedoes.
  - Historical Context: Sonobuoys were first utilized during World War II to detect German U-boats.
Deployment
- - Method of Deployment: Sonobuoys are deployed by being dropped into the ocean from aircraft or launched from ships or submarines.
  - Functionality: Once deployed, they sink to a predetermined depth and begin listening for acoustic signals.
  - Multiple Deployment: Several sonobuoys can be deployed in a pattern to triangulate the location of a target.
Types of Sonobuoys
- - Passive Sonobuoys:
  - Listen for and record sounds without emitting signals.
  - Use a hydrophone to detect sound energy from targets.
  - Active Sonobuoys:
  - Emit a sound pulse and analyze the return echoes to detect and locate targets.
  - Use a transducer to send an acoustic signal.
  - Special Purpose Buoys:
  - Provide environmental data such as water temperature and ambient noise levels.
Components
- - Housing: Typically consists of a cylindrical or spherical buoyant casing.
  - Sensors: Equipped with sensors to detect acoustic signals.
  - Power Source: Powered by a battery or other power source.
  - Communication System: Includes a radio transmitter or other communication system to relay data to the host platform, such as aircraft or ships.
Other Applications
- - Scientific Research: Sonobuoys are used for environmental studies, such as tracking marine life, including whales.
  - Environmental Monitoring: They are also employed in various scientific projects for studying oceanic conditions and marine ecosystems.

Antimatter

News: Scientists have detected the heaviest antimatter nucleus ever observed, called antihyperhydrogen-4. This discovery was made during particle accelerator experiments at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory, New York.
Discovery Significance: The detection of antihyperhydrogen-4, resulting from over 6 billion collision events, offers potential insights into the fundamental differences between matter and antimatter.
Scientific Impact: This finding could help explain why the universe is primarily composed of matter, even though both matter and antimatter were created in equal amounts during the Big Bang.
About Antimatter
Definition: Antimatter is similar to ordinary matter but has an opposite electric charge, often referred to as “mirror matter.”
Examples of Antimatter
- - Positron: The antimatter counterpart of the electron (negative charge) is the positron, which has the same mass but a positive charge.
  - Antiproton and Antineutron: The antimatter equivalents of protons and neutrons are known as antiprotons and antineutrons, respectively.
  - Antiparticles: Collectively, these antimatter counterparts are known as antiparticles.
Antimatter Formation and Properties
- - Creation: Both matter and antimatter were created in equal amounts during the Big Bang. A slight imbalance led to the survival of more matter, forming the universe.
  - Coexistence: Matter and antimatter annihilate each other upon contact, releasing large amounts of energy in the form of gamma rays or elementary particles.
Human-made Antimatter
- - Particle Accelerators: Scientists can create antimatter particles in high-energy environments, such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) operated by CERN near Geneva.
  - Recreation of Conditions: These collisions simulate the conditions shortly after the Big Bang, allowing for the brief creation of antimatter.
Natural Antimatter
- - Sporadic Production: In addition to laboratory conditions, antiparticles are naturally produced sporadically throughout the universe.

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BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy

News: The Union Cabinet approved the proposal ‘BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment. and Employment) Policy for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing’ of the Department of Biotechnology.
BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) Policy
- - Steered By: Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.
  - Objective: To foster high-performance biomanufacturing across various sectors.
High-Performance Biomanufacturing
- - Definition: The ability to produce products ranging from medicine to materials, addressing challenges in farming, food, and promoting the manufacturing of bio-based products.
  - Integration: Advanced biotechnological processes are integrated to enhance manufacturing efficiency.
Innovation and Growth
- - Focus: The policy emphasizes innovation-driven support for research, development, and entrepreneurship.
  - Acceleration: It aims to accelerate technology development and commercialization by establishing biomanufacturing and bio-AI hubs, as well as biofoundries.
Strategic Vision
- - Regenerative Bioeconomy: Prioritizing regenerative bioeconomy models that promote green growth.
  - Skilled Workforce: The policy focuses on expanding India’s skilled workforce and boosting job creation.
Thematic Focus Areas
- - High-value bio-based chemicals
  - Biopolymers and enzymes
  - Smart proteins and functional foods
  - Precision biotherapeutics
  - Climate-resilient agriculture
  - Carbon capture and utilization
  - Marine and space research